John Rainger Ponting
Born Bath 6th April 1926 Return to homepage Top
Only son of Edward Thomas & Doris Ponting
Education
Junior School
St Luke’s School, Bath, 1932-37 (awarded a Scholarship to Secondary School)
Secondary School
City of Bath Boy’s School, 1937-42 (gained London General School Certificate 1942)
Civilian Posts
On leaving school at the age of 16, he took up a post in Local Government:
Library Assistant, and later Senior Library Assistant, Bath City Council. General Division. 18/01/43 – 08/04/51
Senior Library Assistant, Worcester City Council. ATP1 (old grade) 09/04/51 – 30/06/55
Civil Defence Administrative Assistant, Keysham, Somerset County Council. ATP1 01/07/55 – 31/08/59
Area Civil Defence Area, Banbury, Oxfordshire County Council. ATP3 01/09/59 – 12/04/66
Sub-County Civil Defence Officer, Bridgwater. ATP4 13/04/66 – 12/05/68
Head of Contracts Section and Senior Administrative Officer, Construction Section, South Western Road Construction Unit (Headquarters), Taunton. Surveyors Department on secondment to the Department of the Environment, Taunton AP5/SO1 13/05/68.
Made redundant at the age of 58.
Notes:
1. John’s appointment to Worcester in 1951 gave him enough funds to enable him to marry Elizabeth (Betty) Rudall the following year – 9th September 1952.
2. During this period he carried out a certain amount of freelance writing, with articles published in some midland papers, and also the Daily Telegraph.
3. While serving in the Civil Defence at Banbury, he qualified the Home Office Civil Defence College at Sunningdale, and was also elected as a Fellow of the Association of Civil Defence Officers in 1966
4. During his Civil Defence service he attended all of the Civil Defence training schools, and was appointed to the Home Office Civil Defence Southern and South-western Regions Board of Examiners.
Military Service
Full-time service
At the age of 17 joined the 5th Somerset (Bath City) Home Guard
Volunteered for the Army and was called to the colours 5th April 1944. During WWII served in the Reconnaissance Corps where he was trained as a Driver/Operator. Within the Reconnaissance Corps he was posted to GHQ Liaison Regiment (Phantom).
Immediately post-war was sent to the Middle-East and posted to the 3rd The King’s Own Hussars, serving with them until January 1948. Initially based at Ramle, then Sarafand, Megiddo Camp Afula, and finally Athlit.
In January 1946 he was sent to Cairo on a Wireless Instructor’s Course, arriving in time for the Cairo riots. On return, the regiment were now Reconnaissance Regiment to the 6th Airborne Division. During 1946 he took part in many anti-terrorist operations around Tel Aviv, including Operations Agatha & Shark. By this time he rose to Squadron Signal NCO. At the end of the year he was sent back to the UK to complete a parachute course, qualifying January 1947.
On returning to the regiment he was appointed to Regimental Signal NCO, a post he held until leaving the regiment.
TA Service
On 1st April 1948 John joined the North Somerset Yeomanry which was then Reconnaissance Regiment to the 16th Airborne Division. About 1 year later, with the conversion of the North Somerset Yeomanry to the Divisional Regiment RAC, he was posted to the Independent Parachute Squadron.
When in Worcester, John transferred to the Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars. On wishing to take up a full time post in Civil Defence, John had to retire from the TA, by which time he had attained the Rank of Squadron Sergeant Major (WO2)
Retirement years
John was a keen .22 pistol shot, and was in the Somerset small bore team.
He was involved in the Royal British Legion, Parachute Regimental Association, Queen’s Own Hussars Regimental Association, Royal Naval Association, and Palestine Police Old Comrades Association.
Outside of these he also played active roles in the Stoke St Mary’s antiques circle, and the Walnut Tree Club in Galmington.
With his wife Betty’s help he organised trips and holidays for member of some of the above.
John died 14th February 2007 in St Margaret’s Hospice, Taunton, of secondary cancer of the liver, following diagnosis of terminal cancer of the oesophagus in August 2006.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Betty), and his son Robin
John was number 2 when this branch was formed and worked tirelessly for our branch for which we will be eternally grateful.
So rest you Airborne Warrior, you've earned it.